Be Obsessed or Be Average Summary

“What if the only thing standing between you and your dreams was the permission to be obsessed?”

1. Harness the Power of Obsession to Drive Energy and Balance

Obsession is often seen as negative, but it can be your source of unending energy when channeled correctly. Instead of leaving you worn out, true purpose-driven obsession reinvigorates you, even in the face of long hours and relentless tasks. It doesn’t mean workaholism; it’s about staying aligned with your passion and purpose.

Grant Cardone recounts his own life when, as a public speaker, he started losing steam. Traveling non-stop across the U.S. for events had drained him. What he realized was that he had drifted from his original motivation: becoming the greatest salesman. By reconnecting with this purpose, his energy returned, and his focus sharpened.

Living with obsession isn’t about sacrificing everything else. Cardone believes you can weave every element of life into your goals: your career, health, family, and even faith. He demonstrates this by taking his kids to the gym, merging family time with fitness and discipline.

Examples

• Cardone regained motivation by re-centering on his purpose of mastering sales.
• Family time became part of his personal obsession with fitness.
• He dismissed the idea that "balance" means frequent breaks and instead viewed balance as alignment with your life's mission.

2. Let Ambition Evolve with Every Achievement

The concept of ambition shouldn’t have a finish line but constantly extend and grow. Achieving one goal should spark the next one, and this ever-expanding vision keeps you moving forward.

Cardone shares how he started by owning 100 apartment units, then increased his aim to 500, and as of 2016, surpassed 4,500 units. This mindset prevented stagnation and gave him fresh reasons to push harder each day. Ambition is not about finishing—it’s about discovering how far you can go.

When people retire to chase leisure, depression often follows because purpose fades away. Cardone contrasts that with continuing to set lofty goals, whether related to wealth, philanthropy, or creating a legacy. If you dream big, your personal satisfaction will constantly grow.

Examples

• Earning a million dollars led Cardone to set new goals for earning a billion.
• Moving past 100 apartment units inspired an unstoppable growth in real estate.
• He warns retirees against minimal personal goals, which can lead to boredom and unhappiness.

3. Aim High Now, Solve Problems Later

Big promises and high goals force you to stretch your limits and perform better. You don’t have to know exactly how; what matters is committing first and rising to the challenge later.

Cardone points to Apple’s product releases as a prime example of this mindset. Despite launching products with imperfections, Apple consistently leads through innovation and boldness. Being first in the market often matters more than being flawless.

Another example is Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, who inspired the team with bold promises of Super Bowl wins—even during tough seasons. His confidence energized players and fans alike, turning the franchise into one of the NFL’s most valuable.

Examples

• Apple built its legacy by releasing bold products before perfecting them.
• The New England Patriots grew into a $3.2 billion team under Kraft's ambitious goals.
• Major life events, like starting a business, mirror the principle of learning as you go.

4. Embrace Fear to Fuel Growth

Fear isn’t a barrier; it’s a compass pointing toward areas where you’re pushing limits and growing. Fear of failure and rejection can cause discomfort, but stepping into these zones is what leads to greatness.

J.K. Rowling’s journey serves as a perfect story of managing fear. She endured 12 publisher rejections for Harry Potter but embraced failure as a catalyst for resilience. If she had stopped at rejection, she would have missed out on billions of dollars in book sales and a global empire.

Cardone notes that fear can also spark growth in business. During the 2008 financial collapse, instead of retreating, he channeled his fear into expanding into new markets—an approach that provided immense returns during a shaky economic climate.

Examples

• Rowling's resilience through 12 rejections resulted in a global phenomenon.
• Cardone used fear during a financial crisis to fuel aggressive business expansion.
• Moving a small business into a bigger "pond" symbolizes taking risks for higher rewards.

5. Spend to Expand, Not Just Save

Many fear spending money unnecessarily, but Cardone argues that hoarding cash limits your potential. Money is only valuable when it’s actively being put toward growth and expansion.

Re-investing profits into marketing, hiring, or exploring untapped markets ensures the longevity of your business. For example, re-investing heavily in publicity often creates priceless visibility, which paves the way for new opportunities. Cardone himself dedicates a significant percentage of profits to growth-oriented spending.

He also emphasizes the importance of leveraging teams, pointing to behemoth corporations like Amazon and Apple. Attempting to run your business solo is inefficient and limits growth.

Examples

• Cardone spends 30–40 percent of profits on expansion opportunities.
• Publicity dollars create visibility, bringing unexpected opportunities.
• Amazon’s reliance on massive staffing shows the power of team-based scalability.

6. Haters Are a Measure of Success

Rather than being discouraged by criticism, recognize it as a signal that you’re making waves. Haters don’t attack anonymity—they attack relevance, showing you matter in the market.

Cardone reminds readers that critics can even act as free publicity. Online trolls and opponents spread your name inadvertently by talking about you, keeping you relevant in public discourse. Think of political figures who leveraged polarizing opinions to their advantage.

Most importantly, criticism builds thick skin, which strengthens your resolve and teaches resilience. Even negative feedback can point out weak areas, refining the final product.

Examples

• Social media attacks show you’re a market frontrunner, not irrelevant.
• The author embraced critics as proof he was making an impact.
• Feedback from opponents often leads to creating stronger business offerings.

7. Build a Team Obsessed with Winning

An ambitious leader needs an equally committed team to grow alongside them. This requires strict accountability, clear standards, and frequent personal engagement with employees.

Cardone actively listens in on sales calls to ensure team performance matches his ambition. He also celebrates exceptional work by sending personal messages of thanks, even when he’s traveling. This kind of recognition builds loyalty and a shared pursuit of excellence.

Hiring and firing are key tools for crafting the right culture. Employees who don’t meet expectations can’t just be retained; they need to make way for better fits. This attitude ensures your staff stays aligned with your drive.

Examples

• Cardone personally rewards his team with customized messages of gratitude.
• He monitors calls and steps in to maintain high standards.
• Hiring and firing are tools for ensuring every staff member contributes effectively.

8. Never Let Your Goals Plateau

The risk of setting average goals is complacency. Goals should stretch your abilities and keep you striving toward bigger opportunities in life. Having a purpose that evolves is what keeps ambition alive.

Once Cardone realized that burning passion dwindled after achieving certain milestones, he reset his pursuits to things far beyond immediate grasp. This adjustment helped maintain his drive and encouraged exponential growth in his personal and professional life.

Life is too short to dream small or waste time on efforts that don’t expand your legacy.

Examples

• Setting smaller goals leads to stagnation, not satisfaction.
• Cardone redefined his career trajectory to focus on endless legacy ideas.
• Scaling beyond your initial achievements helps avoid post-success plateaus.

9. Control the Conversation and Maintain Standards

Leadership is about staying present and engaged with your team. By consistently communicating expectations and correcting when standards slip, leaders ensure that everyone works cohesively toward overarching objectives.

Cardone doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations with employees who might need more guidance. Direct intervention can help retain alignment with company values. He believes every team member must share the same level of obsession.

Lax attitudes from leadership allow mediocrity to develop, dragging down performance overall.

Examples

• Cardone listens in on calls to uphold standards in real-time.
• Quick corrections help steer teams toward excellence before mistakes grow.
• Rewarding top performers ensures team-wide motivation and loyalty.

Takeaways

1. Invest money in growth and expansion rather than overly cautious saving habits. Reinvest profits in new markets or publicity.
2. Reaffirm your goals regularly to stay energized and re-align with your passion when distractions arise.
3. Create ambitious goals that feel challenging and slightly out of reach; this keeps your motivation and energy alive.